The concept of surviving without food was highlighted by Jesus during his temptation by Satan. After fasting for forty days and nights, Jesus faced Satan’s first temptation, which exploited the extreme improbability of surviving such an ordeal of hunger (Matthew 4:4). Jesus underscored the vital truth that human life was not designed to rely solely on food. This has been the truth throughout the ages, but not believed by many people.
For many Christians, the idea of surviving extended periods under the pressure of hunger is inconceivable. Yet, in Zimbabwe, there are untold stories of individuals enduring years of deprivation, sleeping on roadsides with no government aid. Even relatives, grappling with their own survival, are incapacitated when expected to care for the destitute. Ironically, what seems laughable yet grim, is often regarded as normal within the context of a Christian environment.
A church consists of both extremely wealthy individuals and those struggling to feed themselves. Imagine a scenario where fundraising is necessary for a noble cause, due to the country’s population being plunged into severe poverty. The funds would be raised by mandating that each member contribute a minimum set amount. It appears to be deemed impolite to acknowledge that some members are struggling to feed themselves. This leaves those less fortunate feeling uneasy when they cannot meet the expected contribution.
Nobody desires to be labelled as poor. Each feigns self-sufficiency, and being linked with poverty is deemed a curse. There seems to be a lack of concern for the welfare of the Christian community, particularly striking the elderly. The preference is to align with the wealthy rather than with the poor, a sentiment aimed at upholding the dignity of individuals. Being classified among the impoverished is viewed as disgraceful.
Christianity should not consist of pretenders. Those who are wealthy must understand that their position is not for show but for selflessly sharing with the less fortunate. Instead of feigning wealth, those who lack should openly offer their services for tasks that need to be done, such as laundry or gardening. This presents an opportunity for congenial service among the brethren. Essentially, Christianity advocates for a lifestyle that is distinct and devoid of pretence.
Within a Christian organization, the distinction between the poor and the rich should not exist. In the early Church, individuals were moved to sell their possessions to address the needs of all members. This led to a community devoid of poverty and wealth. While this may seem akin to communism, it is distinct in that it is an act of love, guided by the Holy Spirit.
“Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power, the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated as Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet” (Acts 4:32-37 NKJV)
The early Christians should not be seen as having been the recipients of a different Spirit than the Holy Spirit received by believers today. However, it should be strongly emphasized that the only primary issue with the early Christians was their lack of adherence to the principle of giving, as instructed by Jesus in Matthew 6:1-4. Their commendable practice of giving devolved into a practice that led to the condemnation of a couple who treated this generous act as a mere tradition. The public display of giving fosters the adoption of tradition over the pursuit of Christian love, which can lead to dishonest behaviour.
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.”
Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things (Acts 5:1-11 NKJV).
This demonstrates that not adhering to the guidance of the Holy Spirit can lead to dire consequences. However, Christianity calls for accountability for the wrongful actions of Ananias and his wife. The error of the entire group lay in not following the principle of giving, as instructed by Jesus in Matthew 6:1-4. This reinforces the idea that no individual should be considered the benchmark for Christian matters. The teachings of Jesus provide the eternal standard. Christianity involves an understanding of enduring beyond material needs. The lessons Jesus imparted then are as relevant to us now as they were in his time.
Upon becoming a Christian, following baptism, an individual no longer conforms to worldly thinking. Instead, they become a new creation, embracing a divine principle that views others as God’s spiritual children, beyond physical distinctions. Christians are regarded as fellow members of God’s family. This doesn’t imply perfection, but rather a shaping by the law of love. Each member is accountable for the other’s conduct within the community, with particular care for those battling typical human frailties. Material possessions become a secondary concern.
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:25-34 NKJV).
The concept of accumulating wealth is often seen as a sign of being blessed by God. However, this depends on which deity one refers to. The God of the Bible is not deemed responsible for worldly events but governs His Church, where the focus is not on material wealth but on the Kingdom of God. The aforementioned Scripture clearly shows that one cannot claim to be blessed while others suffer in poverty. Thus, it is crucial to understand the distinction between the God of the Bible and the god of this world, as denoted in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.
The children of God may be regarded as deceased upon their passing. Yet, as Jesus proclaimed, they are counted among the living, distinct from those assumed to be living by bread alone. Despite being deemed dead, they continue to live, according to Jesus’ utterance (John 8:51). Such a statement may elude those who believe that life is sustained solely by bread. This is not merely theoretical, as it originates directly from Christianity’s founder. To be a Christian is to heed the teachings of Christ without variation.
At the start of His ministry, Jesus declared that He owned no physical possessions, which might have deterred many who initially wished to follow Him. The drive to persist in this world is often fueled by the acquisition of material goods. Materialism appears to be a significant barrier for many seeking salvation. The notion of surviving without material possessions is deemed unfeasible, primarily due to a lack of understanding of humanity’s true essence. Fundamentally, this challenges the purpose of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead” (Matthew 8:18-22 NKJV).
Understanding the limitations of ordinary people, Jesus did not indulge the enthusiasm of those wishing to follow Him. Being associated with the poor was a highly scorned notion, which may still hold true today. When He declared, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head,” Jesus was emphasizing that discipleship meant embracing a life akin to poverty. This also meant setting aside prevailing social norms, such as the burial of one’s deceased relatives. All of this detaches one from physical considerations.
One of the most challenging tasks may be to persuade many Christians to accept that God does not require food or shelter. They often get swept up in the literal interpretation of the statements made to the disciples. Yet, Jesus employed figurative language, using terms familiar to worldly understanding, but not referring to physical dwellings. Interpreting all of Jesus’ words literally can lead to dangerous misunderstandings, thus plunging numerous individuals into profound confusion. A common example of such misinterpretations is the following Scriptural passage:
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” (John 14:1-4 NKJV).
Many Christians are indeed captivated by the promise of mansions in Heaven as described in the Scriptural passage. They eagerly anticipate such rewards. However, it is advisable to remember that opportunities to own mansions exist in this world. The concept of owning physical mansions in Heaven is not accurate, as Heaven is spiritual. For those enticed by the idea of owning mansions, the words of Jesus to the scribe, stating that He had nowhere to lay His head, remain pertinent. Here, we are dedicated to upholding the truth and combating misinformation.
Some are drawn to Christianity with the assurance of material blessings such as food and shelter, which are abundant as offered by the god of this world. This same entity tried to tempt Jesus, not realizing His spiritual resilience. “Once more, the devil took Him to a very high mountain, displayed all the world’s kingdoms and their splendour, and said, ‘I will give all these things to You if You bow down and worship me.’” (Matthew 4:8-9 NKJV).
The yearning for material possessions and the craving for fine food are worldly desires. Conversely, Jesus counsels those considering discipleship to renounce such things before pledging to follow Him. A virtue of Jesus is His honesty in not offering deceptive promises. Prospective followers should weigh the costs before their commitment. Conversely, those who seek worldly blessings are advised to steer clear of following Jesus, rather than entertaining doublemindedness.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99